Microlighters

Can anyone advise me how to take out (and replace) an Aquilla 582 radiator?

The problem I am coming up against is that there is a bracket at the top and bottom of the radiator which cannot be removed. Then, there are the FOUR rubber mountings with threaded studs protruding top and bottom. So, in short, you cannot pick the radiator up or down!!!

So, how do you remove/replace the radiator? Am I missing a simple trick?

PS: Does anyone know PM address for Craig (Solowings/Microcraft Africa)?

Many thanks!

I do not know, just taking a stab in the dark here, but logically it went in, so it has to come out.
The mounting brackets have to attach to the trike somehow, can the brackets not be loosened from the trike itself and be removed with the radiator, specifically the top mount?
It is hard to see on the photo, but it looks like the bottom mount is attached to the motor/gearbox unit, if the top bracket cannot be loosened, it may be necessary to remove the four nuts from the rubber mountings, then loosen the motor mountings and drop the motor down a way, giving you room to remove the radiator out from the bottom???
As I said, I do not know the set up, I am sure those in the know will set me straight.

Biggles of Africa wrote:I do not know, just taking a stab in the dark here, but logically it went in, so it has to come out.
The mounting brackets have to attach to the trike somehow, can the brackets not be loosened from the trike itself and be removed with the radiator, specifically the top mount?
It is hard to see on the photo, but it looks like the bottom mount is attached to the motor/gearbox unit, if the top bracket cannot be loosened, it may be necessary to remove the four nuts from the rubber mountings, then loosen the motor mountings and drop the motor down a way, giving you room to remove the radiator out from the bottom???
As I said, I do not know the set up, I am sure those in the know will set me straight.

Thanks for the stab Biggles, but this is proving worse than a Rubiks Cube!

The tubular bracket that the radiator mounts onto is a continuous tube that come OUT (rearwards) just below the engine mounting plate, bends UP, goes up to the level of the radiator top, turns across the top of the radiator and then returns DOWN the other side!

Here is another view . . . .
Here's where it mounts ONTO the engine mounting plate . . . .
View of Radiator Support Frame . . . . .

I see what you mean now, easy enough to unbolt and remove the tubular radiator support tube, but that still leaves you with the radiator firmly between the two brackets which are welded to the support tube
And if the tubular support is one piece, it looks like the prop would have to come off to remove it from the trike as well. EISH.......

Biggles of Africa wrote:I see what you mean now, easy enough to unbolt and remove the tubular radiator support tube, but that still leaves you with the radiator firmly between the two brackets which are welded to the support tube
And if the tubular support is one piece, it looks like the prop would have to come off to remove it from the trike as well. EISH.......

BEEEG EISH!!!

I spoke to Amakosi from Microcraft Africa (Solowings) today and this is how it's done: "Using 13 & 8mm spanners, compress the rubbers by pushing the studs down through the plates"!

O-K-A-Y . . . .

I'll take pictures . . . . of my skinned knuckles!!

Oh .... I remember this .... WELL.
It took me a few hours too until I called microcraft.

removed mine a couple of years ago..... its a MISSION!!! you have to compress the rubbers and then pull on the radiator at the same time so that the bolts come out at a bit of an angle.

OK, the deed has been done . . . .

Step 1: The rubber mounting and stud, ready to be "extracted"!
Step 2: Using 12 - 14mm spanners from both sides to 'work the stud down'
Step 3: Stud out the hole, now for the other side!
Step 4: Move the stud off the mounting plate
Radiator out . . . . all-in-all it took about 20mins!

So John whats the plan with your radiator?

Triker wrote:So John whats the plan with your radiator?

A few little niggles that have just been too long in getting sorted! I had a radiator cap come off and go through the prop, which then hit the radiator, causing some superfical damage, but which needs to be fixed. Then the overflow pipe is loose and so the water comes out where the pipe joins the neck and so does not flow into and back from the overflow bottle. I tried to use Pratley's Steel but it keeps working loose.

Then, past Thursday . . . . well, I'm working up a head of steam to blog about it! Not pretty!!!

Glad you got it sorted John, just seems like such a shade tree mechanics way of doing it, surely they could have made a better plan.
I am sure it does the threads on those studs no good, being dragged through the hole like that.